How To Gray Out Xref In AutoCAD?

Steps to Gray Out Xref in AutoCAD

Working with external references (Xrefs) in AutoCAD can enhance your workflow, especially when collaborating on large projects. Sometimes, you may want to gray out these Xrefs for clarity or stylistic reasons. Here’s how you can effectively gray out Xrefs in AutoCAD.

Method 1: Adjusting Layer Colors

1. Open Layer Properties Manager: Go to the Home tab and select the Layers panel, then click on "Layer Properties."

2. Filter for Xref Layers: Use the filter option to display only Xref layers. This helps in managing the specific layers you want to alter.

3. Select Layers: Highlight all the Xref layers you wish to change. You can hold the Shift key to select multiple layers at once.

4. Change Color: In the Color column, click on the color option and choose a light gray (for example, color 8). This ensures all objects within the Xref layers will appear in gray, provided they are set to "ByLayer."

5. Save Changes: After adjusting the colors, close the Layer Properties Manager.

Method 2: Modifying Viewport Properties

1. Switch to Paperspace: Move to the Paperspace layout where your drawing is prepared for printing.

2. Activate Viewport: Click on the viewport you want to modify to make it active. You can activate it by double-clicking inside.

3. Adjust Viewport Color: Go to the Layer Properties Manager again. Select the layers corresponding to your Xrefs.

4. Set VP Color: Change the viewport color to a gray shade (color 8 is a good option). This change will not affect the model space colors but will alter the appearance in the viewport.

5. Exit Viewport: After making the adjustments, double-click outside the viewport to return to the layout view.

Method 3: Using Fade Control for Xrefs

1. Access Options: Type "OPTIONS" in the command line and press Enter. This opens the Options dialog.

2. Select Display Tab: Navigate to the Display tab within the dialog box.

3. Adjust Fade Control: Find the section labeled "Fade Control" at the bottom-right. Here, adjust the slider for "Xref Display" to your desired level of fade. Moving the slider to the left increases the fade intensity, making Xrefs lighter.

4. Apply Changes: Click OK to apply your settings. The Xrefs will now appear grayed out based on your selected fade level.

Method 4: Changing Layer Transparency

1. Open Layer Properties Manager: As previously mentioned, access the Layer Properties.

2. Select Xref Layers: Again, filter and highlight the Xref layers that you want to change.

3. Modify Transparency: Look for the Transparency column. Click on the setting and adjust it to a percentage that achieves the gray-out effect (for instance, 90% transparency for a significant dimming effect).

4. Enable Plot Transparency: If you are plotting the drawing, ensure that the “Plot transparency” option is enabled in the plot settings to visualize the changes in printed output.

FAQ

Q1: Can I change the color of an Xref layer after it has been inserted?
Yes, you can change the color of an Xref layer using the Layer Properties Manager. Choose the Xref layers and adjust their colors as needed.

Q2: Will fading an Xref layer affect its appearance in model space?
No, fading an Xref only affects how it appears in Paperspace or the viewport. The original drawing remains unchanged in model space.

Q3: How can I restore the original colors or layer settings of an Xref?
To restore the original settings, check the Visretain variable. If set to "1," it keeps the original Xref layer settings intact. If you experience visibility issues, adjust this setting or reload the Xref.